Flash-light photography.



w. NESBIT, FLASH LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHYl APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I I. |913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WIr/1588515 W. NESBIT.

FLASH LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY.

APPLICATION FILED sEPT.II. I9I3. l

1,152,203. PaIenIed Aug. 3L 1915a 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

,4 TTOHNEY W. NESBIT.

FLASH LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I I. 1913.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

5 sIIEETs-sHEE 4.-

w. NESBIT. FLASH LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY. APPILICM'ICUN` FILED SEPT. Il. |913.

5`SHEETS-SHEET 5.

@wwwa Z/gw I I ATTORNEY TofaZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it lknown that I, WILLIAM NEsisrr, a

, citizen of the United-States, and'resident of Baltusrol, in the-county of Union and State of'New 'Jersey,vhave invented certain new and useful lImprovements in Flash-Light Photography, of whichthe following is a specification.v .i

' 'Ih's invention 4relates to the art of flash- 'lightz photography', and more particularly to photographing moving objects which nec'essitatev using a 'fast shutter,.and the primary object is to `s 'synchronize the operaftion of the4 camera shutterwitli the instant of greatest luminosity-of the flash that the "exposure is effected only at the moment of maximum flight.' If the flash' were an unchanging fact-'orlin the sense that the instant of greatest luminosity :always occurs at exactlythe same period* following inception of the explosion, theproblem would not` be difficult. i' Indeed, prior to` my' investigation,

j means have beenprposed for synchronizing the movements of the flash exploding means andthe shutter. 'But' unavoidable variations i inthe 'speed ofthe flash-producing explosive renders' it impractica'ble t0 rely on a fixed timeinterval between aniinpulse that pro- .duces the explosion and an impulse that operatesrthe'shutter.v 'If a perfect impression f is obtained it is vbecause the shutter hap vpened to be operated at the instant of maximum light. Another operation under seeiningly the same conditions is liable to result :in either a' Apremature or ai belated exposure', with correspondingly unsatisfactory results. rI `lie Aspeed of flashlight' powders varies usually between one-fifth' and one-fortieth of 'a second, `the average speedbeing approximately one-twentieth of a second, which means that one-twentietli of a second elapses between thetiine the Apowder is ignited and the liglitdisappears. And during this very brief moment th'edightvaries in intensity, increasing to its inaxiinuin and thenY decreasing." Variations"i`i i tlie speed of different charges of powder taken from the same package result because of atmospheric changes, such as are experienced in the open air.' Theexplosion is more rapid when the surrounding atmosphere is dry than when the air is more or less saturated, as during damp or rainy nights. lVith the invention herein proposed there is no fixed time interval between igniting the Specification ofLetters Patent.

FLASH-EIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY. f "i Patented Auw. 31,191.5.

J.Application filed September 11, 1913. Serial No. 789,354.

charge and operating the shutter. The in-I terval may be i'elativelylong or relatively short, determined by the normal speed of the powder, atmospheric conditions, etc.

This resultis accomplished by utilizing the energy developed by the explosion for actuating the shutter, so that it is immaterial, within theI speed variations indicated,

whether the explosion is prompt or sluggish as the shutter is not operated until after the explosition takes place, and atan instant when the flash has attained maximum luminosity.

The invention may be variously utilized for indoor and outdoor work, the outdoor adaptations being especially well suited for photographing wild animals, in such use the apparatus being set in a location frequented by animals of which photographs lare desired, with a bait-or tripfw-ire so vlocated that a. pull thereon will operate the flash producer, and with the camera properly `focused the ensuing flash causes a perfect exposure at, the instant of maximum light.y

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a form of' apparatus for outdoor service, being designed primarily for automatically photographing wild animals Fig. Q'is a sectional elevation of the flash-producing mechanism of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a top plan of the same. Fig. Ll is a `sectional elevation of'anothei forni of flashproducing apparatus designed primarily for indoor service, and Figs. 5 and G are elevations of the same, each 'of Figs. l, 5 and G illustrating a different means for operating the camera shutter, inall of thel adaptations 1 the shutter-operating means being actuated by the explosive energy .of the flash producer.

In the construction of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the support for the flash producer consists of a tubular body l which is formed at one side with a bracket 2 having tlietliree spikes l,

latter may be of powder forni, as is usual,

and may beconlined in a paraffin container 16 to exclude dainpness. The explosive charge mayiest on lugs 1 3 in cup 13, being thereby spaced upwardly from the bottom forni, as indicated at I3, for support'- of the cupa-nd projecting above the cup top, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The bottom .of the cup is grooved at 19 and provided with drain apertures l19 vfor the purpose of carrying ofi` an water that may be blown into the cup, whic if permitted to collect might soak 1 shown in 1 engages the shutter-operating lever 6", the shutter being snapped by spring 6cV when the prop is withdrawn.

6 is the camera lens.-

Secured t the bottom of cup 13 is a percussion sparker consisting of a blank cartridge 15 which is adapted to -be fired by hammer 14, located within body 1 and secured to the upper` end of vertically movable rod 12. This rod and hammer are adapted to be depressed and'so held against the action of rod-embracing spring 17 by extremity 10 ofthe latch lever 9 engaging notch 11 in therod, as nFig. 1, the lever being fulcrumedat 10 to bracket 2. The lever is held normally depressed and in engagement with rod 12 by spring 9* secured to the'lower endof bracket 2.

Ordinarily, theapparatus is mounted in close proximity to a place frequented by the animal of which a picture is desired, or a runway or path likely to be traversed by such animal, and a suitable bait is connected to the latch-operating line 49, or the latter maybe extended across the path or runway, the camra being of course focused on the point at whichline 49 must be operated. A

. pull on this line resulting from jerking at the bait, or striking the line in the path or runway disengages the latch lever 9 from rod 12, and the upward impulse of the latter caused by spring 17 projects hammer 14 against cartridge 15, and the resulting spark ignites the flash-producing explosive 16. The explosive energy blows off cap 3, as in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and the `displacing of the cap instantly removes the shutter prop 5, the apparatus being set with line .4 taut, with the result that the explosive-1s effected at the moment of maximum light,

z'. e.,"after the inception of the explosion and.

at the instant of its-maximum energy and maximum luminosity. These results are obtained regardless of the speed of the explosive, whether fast or slow as those terms arefunderstood in the art. With cap 3 fastened to the support as by staple 8, 'it is prevented from being blown away and lost.

The forms of apparatus illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are designed primarily for indoor service, or :at least where they will not be subjected to the elements as with the Adapted to rest on and g apparatus of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, which latter may remain out of doors and unattended for days or even weeks at a time. The flash igniting mechanism is the same in each of the three adaptations of Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the

differences between these forms being in the means employed for transmitting movement to the shutter. In each of said adaptations the holder for the explosive 'powder 23 is of stem-like tubular form, as indicated at 20, being adjustably sustained on a supporting rod or standard 21. The upper end of the holder body is of cup form, as indicatedl at 22, this cup formation extending around the hub-like central part 20l which is, in effect, an upward continuation of the tubular body formation 20. Placed in an aperture in one side of cup 22 is the blank cartridge 24 which is adapted to be fired by the hammer end 25 of lever 26, the latter fulcrumed at 30 on bracket 30 projecting from body 20. For holding lever 26 retracted againstthe downward-pull of sprin 32 securedto arm 26 of the lever, a hea'ed latch 27 is fulcrumed at 28 Vto bracket-29 projecting from body 20, the lower end of spring 32 being secured to the latch as shown and tending to draw it upward-and hold its headed extremity in engagement with lever 26. Thus, it will be seen that spring 32 performs the double duty of holding the hammer lever latched in retracted position and also effects the cartridge firing movement thereof when released. The inner extremity of latch 27 is bifurcated as indicated at 28', with a stop pin 29 projecting from bracket 29 between the arms of the bifurcation,

lthereby limiting both the 4upward' and downward movement ofthe latch. A wire or cord 27 extends from latch 27, and a pull exerted thereon by the o erator serves to release the latch and fire t e cartridge, as will be understood.

In the adaptations of Figs. 4, 5 and 6 the means actuated by the explosion of the flashproducing powder for transmitting movement for effecting the operation of the camera shutter is embodied in a rod 32 which is movable vertically in body 20 having the-cap-like plate 32 at its upper end which when lowered covers the major portion of the charge, the plate restin on the hub-like part 20 of the body. hen the explosion occurs the plate and rod 32 are elevated, as in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

the lower extremity yof support or bod'y 2Q. Thus, the instant rod is raised the circuit is closed through engagement of contact 33 n' and 34, the solenoid is energized., and the inward movement of its core actuates the camera shutter. i

In the adaptation shown in Fig. 5, the flexible shutter-operating push wire 50 has the cable 52 in which'it operates secured to bracket 51 on the lower extremity of rod 32, and when said rod is elevated by the explosion, wire 50 .engages the 4bottom of supp ciple of the invention is present, viz., utilizport 20 and is'pressed downward or inwardly into' the cable and the shutter is operated.

In the adaptation of Fig. 6, plunger 60 at the-lower extremity of rod B2 operates in cylinder 61 depending from the bottom of support 20, and when the explosion occurs the sudden upward movement of the piston produces Aair pressure in a flexible tube 63 leading to the camera, said tube being connected to the cylinder at 62, and the shutter is operated as with the familiar type of shutter-operating hand bulb. The pushwire shutter-operating mechanism of Fig. 5 and the 'compressed air operati a; mechanism of Fig. 6 are so well understood in the art that detail illustration and description are deemed unnecessary. v l

,It will be understood that the operating line 49 of the adaptation of Figs.l l and 2,

and the pull wire or cord 27 of the constructions shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, may bel operated interchangeably either by hand or by the object to be photographed, in the latter use it being only necessary to extend and direct the pull line in such manner that when operated the object actuating it will be within the range of the camera. The.

mechanism shown in Fig. l is not sufficiently flexible to be well adapted for use other than wild animal photography.v Vhereas, in the other adaptations the Aelectric circuit wires of Fig. 4, flexiblevcable of Fig. 5, and the rubber hose of Fig. 6, permit of the camera being variously positioned with reference to the flash producer. While the flash-producing mechanism of Figs. 4L, 5 and 6 may well be used out of doors, its open powder container -is not protected from- `rain, snow, etc., as is the cap-covered construction of Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be seen, however, that in each and all of the adaptations the underlying prining the energy generated by the .flash-producing explosion for instantly operating the shutter, with the result that the latter is operated when the flash is at its maximum brilliancy, and this.4 quite regardless of whether, due to climatic or other conditions, the explosive is slow or fast.

I claim:

1. The combination of a support fora flash-producing explosive, explosiveigniting means, and movable camera. shuttei-,

tripping means adapted to be impelled by the explosive force of thel flash producer.

2. The combination of a support for a Hash-producing explosive, explosive ignitinig means, camera shutter-actuating means, and means energized bythe explosive force of the flash producer for releasing the shutteractuating means.

3. The combination of a support for al making a spark-producing impulse, means for releasing the trip device, a movable device adapted to be energized by the explosion, a camera shutter, and means made operative by the movement of saldi device for tripping the shutter.

5. The lcombination of a support for a flash-producing explosive, a percussion spark producer for ignitmg Vthe explosive, an impelled hammer adapted when released -to strike the percussion device, trip means for holding the hammer retracted and for releasing the same, and camera shutter-trip` ping means energized by the explosive force of the flash producer. i'

6. The combinationof a holder for a I flash-producing explosive, a spark producer for igniting the explosive, a spring-impelled device for actuating the spark producer, 'a movable latch for holding said device retracted against the pressure of its impelling spring, an operating line connected to the latch, and camera shutter-tripping means energized by' the explosive force of the flash producer.

7. The combination of a support for1 a flash-producing explosive, explosive igniting means, a device adapted to be moved relatively to the support by the force of the explosion, camera-shutter tripping means, and means actuated by said explosion-im` pelled device for actuating the tripping means.

8. The combination of' an open support for. a flash-producing explosive, explosive igniting means, a movable. device normally located at the open portion of the supportand adapted to be impelled by the force of the explosion, and camera-shutter tripping means operatively connected to said device and adapted to be actuated bythe explosionproduced movement of said device.

9. The combination of an open-top sup` port for a flash-producing explosive, ex-

Ine

Vplosive igniting means, a. movable device normally located at the open portion of the support and adapted to be impelled by the force of the explosion, a rod extending from 5-l and movable with said device, an abutment,

located at the openportion of the support and adapted to be impelled by the force of the explosion, a rod secured to said device and extending downwardly through the tubular portion of the support, and a cam- 20 era-shutter tripping push wire connected to the rod and adapted to be projected against said abutment by the movement of said rod.

, In testimon Whereofl affix my signature in presence o two Witnesses.

y WM. NESBIT,

i Witnesses: l

CHARLES W. BROWER, l CLAREivoE H. ALEXANDER. 

